Turkish drone maker DASAL signs defence supply deal with Nigerian firm

DASAL Aviation Technologies, a Turkish company manufacturing multi-rotor and sub-cloud unmanned aerial vehicles for combat, has signed a supply agreement with NIGUS International Investment Limited, a Nigerian firm.

Anadolu Agency, Turkish state media, reported on Friday that the agreement was signed at the SAHA 2026 international defence, aviation and space industry fair held at the Istanbul Expo Centre.

SAHA Istanbul is said to be the largest defence, aviation and space industry cluster in Europe.

According to the report, both firms also signed a local assembly and conditional technology cooperation agreement.

“The agreement signed between DASAL Aviation Technologies and NIGUS at the fair lays the foundations for the provision of strategic systems for approved official end users, as well as a permanent defence cooperation infrastructure in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region,” the report reads.

Under the supply package, DASAL will provide 100,000 DASAL MIKON Kamikaze UAVs, 200 DASAL FALCON R556 and 100 DASAL PUHU cargo UAV systems with proven operational success in the field.

The agreement also includes the construction of local defence industry capabilities in Nigeria.

With NIGUS as the strategic platform coordinator, DASAL will establish a local assembly, system integration and comprehensive maintenance and repair overhaul (MRO) infrastructure, which will enable the Nigerian armed forces to “achieve uninterrupted cyclical logistical support and the highest level of war readiness”.

In a statement issued by DASAL, Kutay Büyüköztürk, its general manager, said the contract establishes the company internationally as a cost-effective strike power in asymmetric warfare with a proven reputation in under-cloud operations.

Büyüköztürk added that DASAL has built a dominant defence technology and logistics maintenance base in Africa while adding kamikaze and cargo UAVs, which increase the operational speed of the military in the tactical field, to their allies’ inventories.

“Our aim is to maximise the force multiplier effect of the Nigerian Armed Forces on the field with a disciplined integration and uncompromising technical support strategy,” Büyüköztürk said.

Malik Ado-Ibrahim, NIGUS chief executive officer (CEO), said securing Nigeria’s future requires visionary partnerships and technological independence.

“This strategic coordination we establish with DASAL is a paradigm shift in the approach to modern defence supply of Nigeria and the broad ECOWAS region,” he said.

“Going beyond traditional purchases, gradual local assembly focuses on integration capabilities. Thus, we are building an industrial base based on high technology.

“Bringing the engineering strength of DASAL’s multi-rotor platforms to Nigeria is a strategic step in ensuring regional security and long-term operational flexibility.”

The deal comes amid increasing bilateral military cooperation between Turkey and Nigeria.

In January, Nigeria and Turkey signed nine agreements to strengthen bilateral ties during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the Middle Eastern country, including one on defence cooperation.

Last month, Christopher Musa, minister of defence, said Turkey will train 200 Nigerian special forces as part of efforts to bolster the country’s defence system.